title: [Pneumococcal meningitis. A 40-year case load].
abstract: Eighty-four cases of pneumococcal meningitis were admitted to the medical-epidemic department C, Odense Hospital, during the period from 1940 to 1980. 39% of the patients were under 10 years, 17% under one year, whereas 23% were over 50 years. The proportion males to females in all groups was approximately 3:2. Pneumococcal meningitis, like other types of meningitis, responds dramatically to antibiotic treatment, but must still be considered a serious disease. Following treatment with a combination of penicillin, streptomycin, sulphonamides and chloramphenicol the mortality during the period 1952 to 1980 decreased to 12.7%. The fatal cases after 1952 all occurred during the years 1975-77. Patients with meningitis are very sensitive to overhydration. It was therefore decided to restrict intravenous administration in these patients. Following the introduction of this regimen the mortality decreased again. The prevailing cause of death from meningitis during the antibiotic era was brain edema, which may occur even if the inflammation of the meninges has vanished. Therefore it is considered important to avoid overhydration in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Medicinsk-epidemisk afdeling C, Odense Sygehus.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Horstmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged
vernacular_title: Pneumokokmeningitis. Et 40-års materiale.